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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: face · rock · temple · stock · safe · rush · tube · bat

  1. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  2. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  3. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  4. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  5. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  6. When was this ________________ built?
  7. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. The ________________ market has crashed.
  10. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  13. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  14. That must've been a ________________.
  15. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  19. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  20. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  21. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. I'll be taking the ________________.
  24. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. tube — a container
  2. temple — side of the head
  3. tube — in a tire
  4. bat — the animal
  5. rock — a stone
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. face — part of the head
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. stock — shares
  10. rush — to hurry
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. face — to point toward
  13. bat — in an idiom
  14. rush — a thrill
  15. stock — goods
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. rock — music
  18. stock — a soup base
  19. bat — for baseball
  20. rush — hurry
  21. face — to confront
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. tube — the underground
  24. temple — a place of worship

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com